Research Design

Research design describes and identifies the process of data gathering in any research (Gallier, 1992). Many researchers have identified different methods of research design which could be used to create richer research. A summary of the methods is given in Table 4.2. (Galliers, 1992; Alavi, 1994; Cavaye, 1996; Remenyi and Williams, 1996; Hussey and Hussey, 1997; Leedy and Ormrod, 2001).

Table 4.2: Research design

Research Design

Explanation

Field Study Researcher acts as observer involved in field of study and aims to achieve

defined research objectives by applying specific techniques of data collection in the organisation.

Action Research

The researcher both observes and contributes to the organisation to investigate and solve a phenomena in field experiments and by shared partnerships having control over variables (Denscombe, 2002; Rapoport, 1970). It has the following characteristics: Practical, Change, Cyclical process and Participation.

Ethnographic Research

The researcher attempts to investigate phenomena through the understanding of society and human activities. Ethnographic research could involve various methods of data collection such as interviews and questionnaires. It is based on observing patterns of human activity and societies where the researcher could draw conclusions from participants' activities and views.

Case Studies The researcher aims to investigate existing phenomenon embedded within a

specific context, and utilizes various methods, usually a social phenomena using various methods of data gathering such as experiments, surveys, and archival analysis (Stone, 1978; Benbasat, 1984, 1985; Kaplan, 1985 cited in Benbasat et al., 1987 ;Yin, 1989).

Survey These are one of the most common methods of gathering data (Weisberg

and Bowen, 1977). Creswell (2003) states that surveys include cross- sectional and longitudinal studies using questionnaires or structured interviews with representative sample of population.

Sekaran (1992) defined cross-sectional surveys as data collected just once over a given period of time, whereas in longitudinal surveys data are collected more than once at regular intervals.

Surveys involve several stages, from identifying the sample and developing the survey questions to administering them and analysing the data gathered qualitatively and quantitatively and finally drawing conclusions about the population under study (Thomas, 1996).

Experiment This is a common method of data gathering which could be applied both in

Research Design

Explanation

specific measurements applied under certain conditions, either in a controlled laboratory or as a real world event, aimed at the study of a specific subject, theory or phenomenon.

Modelling This involves creating and/or investigating a specific model in order to

improve it to enhance performance and obtain beneficial results, or could be used just to understand the situation.

Grounded Theory

This research is based on in-depth analysis of a combination of data gathered using a series of methods to identify and conclude with theory based on all findings.

Operational Research

This is based on examining operational activities in order to optimise them in the pursuit of set objectives. This type of research is common in economics (Leedy and Ormrod, 2001; Saunders, 2000).

Archival Research

This is based on archival data gathered from historical events

Yin (1989) summarises some empirical studies based on interpreting real world events (see Table 4.3).

Table 4.3: Relevant situations for different research strategies (from Yin, 1989)

Strategy Form of research

Question Requires Control Over Behavioural Event? Focuses on Contemporary Events?

Experiment How, why Yes Yes

Survey Who, what, where,

how many, how much

No Yes

Archival analysis (e.g. economic study)

Who, what, where, how many, how much

No Yes

History How, why No No

Chapter 4: Research Methodology

In this research, a mixture of research designs is chosen to achieve the research objectives. The thesis is based on a case study of I-voting in a particular part of the world, the State of Qatar, and to investigate this case, a wide variety of methods will be employed including experiments and surveys, and interviews and questionnaires were based on specific and representative participants. In addition, the thesis involves developing a model to study a method to improve the existing voting process (paper- based) in Qatar by adopting I-voting technology. Furthermore, it contains action research not only to develop I-voting but also to apply it in reality by getting support from responsible organisations. However, it was hard for the project to be applied fully in Qatar owing to the sensitivity and the confidentiality of voting as a democratic process, so a demonstration of I-voting was used to examine the effectiveness of I-voting and people’s acceptance of such new technology.

Table 4.4 details the research objectives and the research design applied towards their achievement.

Table 4.4: Research design and research objectives

Research objectives Research design

1. To review the literature to determine the basic requirements for a democratic voting system and I-voting to support such a system and, hence, to form a set of criteria to act as a checklist to test the adequacy and acceptability of any existing or proposed system. Furthermore, to examine different ways of voting in a democratic environment, and to assess each method using the criteria established to determine the strength of the case for using I-voting.

2. To review world-wide experience of I-voting adoption, to highlight the successes and failures, and to address critical issues associated with their experience. Also, to review literature to discover sociological and technical obstacles to adoption of such technology and to investigate potential solutions to overcome I-voting challenges.

3. To investigate and define the best practice research methodology to carry out this research.

4. To investigate the readiness of Qatar in terms of technical and non- technical aspects such as cultural, national and other country-related variables that might motivate the development or usage of I-voting in Qatar by means of literature and interviews.

Literature review

5. To assess, by means of questionnaires and interviews, the confidence and willingness of Qatari citizens to take part in the initiative of I- voting, and to reveal the barriers that would inhibit I-voting in Qatar.

Case study,

Literature review, Surveys, Interviews, Experiments

Research objectives Research design

6. To assess by means of experiment, questionnaire and interview of the Qatari people a prototype of I-voting for Qatar elections, to obtain a rich picture of people’s opinions and problems encountered while engaging in the voting process. Also, to test the effectiveness of the prototype solution in overcoming existing I-voting challenges and satisfaction of Qatar election requirements. Furthermore, to make a comparison between the Qatar experiment results and those of Estonia's experience with I-voting to measure success or failure of the Qatar experiment in overcoming the Estonia's problems with I-voting.

7. To investigate the security risks that might appear due to lack of awareness of information security on the client side, to measure the level of awareness of Qatari people on the client side of I-voting to propose appropriate methods for solving the problem.

Surveys, Interviews, Experiments

8. To design an effective I-voting model for the State of Qatar, by combining available technology and best practice to overcome I-voting challenges.

9. To test the applicability of the proposed model for overcoming the challenges of I-voting in the State of Qatar by means of simulation, experiments and expert opinion.

Modelling Findings based on qualitative/ quantitative analysis

10. To propose, from the above findings, effective recommendations for the Qatar government to help in introducing I-voting in Qatar society.

Chapter 4: Research Methodology